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A new review led by researchers at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute highlights the potential impact of female reproductive characteristics as overlooked risk factors contributing to later metabolic dysfunction. The study, titled “Reproductive risk factors across the female lifecourse and later metabolic health,” was published in the January 26 edition of Cell Metabolism.
Metabolic health, characterized by optimal blood glucose, lipids, blood pressure, and body fat, plays a crucial role in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The review explores the connection between specific female reproductive traits and chronic metabolic health, suggesting that screening for these reproductive risk factors throughout a woman’s lifecourse may be essential for prevention and treatment of chronic metabolic diseases.
Lead author Amy R. Nichols, a research fellow at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized the importance of understanding potential underlying causes and risk factors for poorer metabolic function. “Current evidence linking certain female reproductive traits to chronic metabolic health and disease suggests that screening for reproductive risk factors across the lifecourse may be an initial step to aid prevention or treatment of chronic metabolic diseases,” said Nichols.
The identified reproductive risk factors include early age of first menstruation, menstrual irregularity, the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), high weight change in pregnancy, abnormal blood sugar and lipid levels during pregnancy, and the severity and timing of menopausal symptoms. These traits may share underlying mechanisms leading to poorer metabolic health, such as genetic influences, hormonal fluctuations, or body fat.
While acknowledging the significance of recognizing reproductive milestones as potential risk factors, the study emphasizes the need for future research to comprehend the complex relationships involved. Senior author Emily Oken, Harvard Medical School Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Medicine at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, emphasized the challenges of disentangling the relationship between risk factors and metabolic dysfunction. She highlighted the importance of gathering clinical evidence across the female reproductive lifespan in healthcare settings to enhance patient education, implement prevention strategies, and delay disease onset.
